Jefferies calls for swift response to Tynecastle defeat

RONNIE ESPLIN AND DARREN JOHNSTONE

KILMARNOCK manager Jim Jefferies faces his former club Hearts for the third time in ten days tonight confident he will see a response after Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Tynecastle, which he labelled his side’s worst display of the season.

The man who led the Gorgie club to Scottish Cup glory in 1998 is glad the Ayrshiremen have a swift opportunity in the fourth-round replay at Rugby Park to make amends for a tame collapse in Edinburgh at the weekend.

Jefferies said: "Without a doubt that was the most disappointed I have been all season. I’m not saying that we played fantastically well in the first cup game [when the teams drew 2-2] but we competed and for some reason we didn’t on Saturday.

"What you want is a game quickly to get it out of the system. The boys were in on Sunday, we knew they would be down and we had a wee talk with them and then we had a look at the video on Monday.

"We gave Hearts far too much room to play and no matter who you play you’ll have problems if you do that but we’ll be well fired up for it this time."

Striker Gary Wales limped out of training with a thigh injury and is doubtful, as is midfielder Gary Locke who is carrying an ankle knock. Defender Freddie Dindeleux is feeling the effects of his old stomach muscle injury and will be monitored and new signing Liam Fontaine, who was taken off with double vision against Hearts on Saturday will have his head knock assessed by the club doctor.

Jefferies also confirmed that tonight’s match will probably be the last time he is joined in the dugout by first-team coach Ian Durrant. The 38-year-old former Rangers midfielder is set to join the Ibrox coaching set-up in a youth development role after Jefferies received an approach at the weekend. "We probably expect it to be his last game and we wish him all the best," said Jefferies. "If he goes, it won’t be hard to understand the reasons why. He was at Ibrox at a very successful time and he enjoyed a good career at Rangers. If that’s what he wants to do then it is a fantastic opportunity."

Meanwhile, new Hearts striker Lee Miller has already tasted bitter disappointment in the FA Cup this season - he missed a penalty for Bristol City in a shoot-out loss to Brentford - and hopes to make the most of his second chance in the Scottish equivalent. He said: "I have never actually played at Hampden before so it would be great to do that. Every player wants to play at their national stadium."

The former Falkirk player returned north on loan from the League One outfit in January and is enjoying a rich vein of form. Miller notched his fourth goal in seven games in the win over Kilmarnock at the weekend with a stunning strike. His hopes of landing a permanent deal have been boosted with the news Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has told head coach John Robertson that cash will be made available to sign him.

Robertson said: "Lee scored a great goal at the weekend and has done very well since he came here. Mr Romanov was at Saturday’s game and I know he was very impressed too. He spoke to me afterwards and said there will be money there to try and keep Lee."

Miller was last night delighted by the off-field developments over his future. He said: "I’m enjoying my time up here, the boys are brilliant, we have been getting the results and we have been playing well."

Hearts have Andy Webster available again after a league suspension but Jamie McAllister is banned. Lithuanian international Deividas Cesnaukis is available for selection.

Tonight’s winners will clinch a home tie with Livingston in the quarter-finals.

Taken from the Scotsman